Shepherd of Life

“Jesus said:
“My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
No one can take them out of my hand.”

John 10:27-28

On the Fourth Sunday of Easter, the Church celebrates “Good Shepherd Sunday” because the Gospel we hear is about the Good Shepherd who has laid down His life for His sheep. This Good Shepherd who has been promised to the the people of Israel by the words of the Prophets is God Himself who has taken on human flesh to lead to paradise Himself, His people, His sheep. But, do the sheep hear His voice?

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who is Life itself. He laid down His life so that His sheep might come to have eternal life. Think about that for a second. They very Author of Life laid down His own life so that we might have His life! To someone without faith, this sounds stupid and absurd because it seemingly defies logic and reason, but to a sheep who has opened its ears to listen and its heart to receive, this is the most amazing truth ever because the sheep, something so seemingly insignificant is regarded by God as worthy of His own life. Brothers and sisters, that is how God regards us. Even in our weaknesses and sinfulness, we are loved by Him so much that warrants His giving over of His own life.

So, brothers and sisters, the Shepherd of Life, the Good Shepherd calls out to us today. Are our ears open? Are our hearts open? Do we help other sheep, perhaps even lost sheep open their ears and hearts? It is not enough that we hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. We must lead others to hear that voice too. There are so many voices out in the world that disguises to be a voice of the Good Shepherd — the voices of false pleasures, false goods, false truths, and false beauties. We must learn to discern well the voice of Our Good Shepherd who leads us only to life and never death. This path to life will include pain and suffering and the voice of the world will tell us that it is the path of death because of its trials. But we must listen closely and hear the true voice who says to us,

“Yes, there is suffering and pain. But I am with you. I have come to you to give you life, and I will be with you all the way and will lead you to the hand of my Father. Let your hearts not be troubled for I have already conquered sin and death. I am the Good Shepherd and you are my sheep and for you I have laid down my life. Let me raise you up with me for you have been raised to new life, a life that never ends, a life that is with me and my Father. Come to me.”

Seeing the Father

“Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?’”

John 14:9

In response to Thomas’ question Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” But Philip goes a step further and asks Jesus to show him the Father. Jesus does not give a straight answer but instead seems to be a little bit upset or frustrated, saying, “… and you still do not know me, Philip?” Way to go Philip! But of course Jesus does not stop there. He goes on to do what He always do — teach, explain, and accompany.

Jesus teaches the Apostles the relationship He has with the Father, and by extension their relationship with the Father. They can only have a relationship with the Father if they have one with the Lord for “no one comes to the Father except through me.” Although it seems as if Philip has not been an attentive follower of Jesus, but maybe that isn’t the entire story (I am not saying this just because I share the same name as the Apostle!). Why was it that Philip asked to see the Father? Perhaps he realized that to know the Father is essential and is necessary, and so in his immature zeal Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father. Jesus tells the apostles that whoever has seen Him has seen the Father, and that the Father is in Him and He in the Father. All that the Lord has done and said is from the Father, and so truly, whoever has seen and heard the Son, has seen and heard the Father too.

Our relationship with the Son and the Father is crucial, brothers and sisters. Only in having a personal relationship with the Father by being baptized in the Christ do we have salvation and have adoption as sons and daughters of God. Not only this but because of our relationship with the Father and the Son, God will do great things through us, not just the works Jesus has done but also “greater ones” than those. In seeing the Father and knowing Him by having a personal relationship with Him, we will truly be able to live freely for we will have known the way, the truth, and the life — Jesus Christ who walks with us, strengthens us, and saves us.

An Invitation to Freedom

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’”

John 21:15a

"I am going fishing" said St. Peter, and the other disciples who were there said "We also will come with you." At this point, Jesus had appeared to the Apostles several times already. They were no longer hiding in the locked room. The appearances of Jesus had gradually warmed their hearts and strengthened their spirits. But instead of spreading the Good News that Jesus had risen from the dead, Peter returned to fishing. However, even here we can see what Jesus said to Peter in the very beginning coming to fulfillment: "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Mt. 4:19). The disciples said to Peter, "We are coming with you!" Peter was catching men, but perhaps he did not realize this yet. And so they set out for the sea to catch some fish.

They caught nothing. They were unable to catch anything because they have been called to catch men and be for God, fishers of men. They were unable to catch anything because they were doing it apart from Jesus. Apart from God, man can do nothing, let alone doing anything well. When they had seen Jesus, and listened to His instructions, they caught numerous fish. The lesson they learned here was to depend on God and to heed the Words of Jesus. They caught 153 large fish, symbolizing the 153 species of fish that were known throughout the world and classified at the time - perhaps pointing to their call to preach the Good News universally to all nations and to be fishers of men.

After eating breakfast together, Jesus pulled Peter aside and asked him, "Do you love me more than these?" Peter said, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said to Him, "Feed my lambs." A second time Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me?" Again, Peter answered affirmatively, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." "Tend my sheep." Then a third time Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me?" "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." "Feed my sheep." Perhaps a well supported interpretation of the three-fold questioning Jesus proposed is that it was an opportunity for Peter to make up for the three times he had denied Christ. This three-fold confession of his love for Jesus made up for the three-fold denial of Peter.

With each question and answer, Jesus gave Peter a task. "Feed my lambs." "Tend my sheep." "Feed my sheep." I can only imagine the deep meaning of each of the three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. The first time could be the general "Do you love me" and do you love me above all things and all people? Peter said yes. But then Jesus asked him a second time. This second time may have been an invitation to a deeper reflection on what Jesus was asking of him and what his answer may really mean. "Do you love me?" Peter may have thought about the times when Jesus spoke to them about love and what it requires. Could Peter really live out a life of that kind of love? Peter said "yes." Finally, Jesus' third "Do you love me?" was the ultimate invitation to live a life of true freedom, a life that is focused on the will of the Father, an authentic life which included sacrifices, even the sacrifice of his own life. At this time, Peter may have thought of the times when he encountered Jesus profoundly. Being with Jesus on the mountain with Moses and Elijah when He was transfigured. When he confessed that Jesus was "The Christ, the Son of the Living God," and when Jesus told him that He would build His church on top of him and gave to Peter the keys to the kingdom and the authority and power to bound and loose things here on earth that would have eternal effects. When Peter thought about these moments, he must have felt so loved by the Lord. But then at the same time, the enemy must have been working hard reminding Peter of how much he must have hurt Jesus by betraying Him after all that talk about remaining with Him and dying for Him. Peter looked down in despair. Jesus looked intently at him with a smile. Jesus' smile had reminded Peter of Jesus' love for him when He washed his feet, and thought to himself how good it is that Jesus is with him now. Then looking intently into Jesus' eyes, Peter answered Jesus, "Yes, I do love you." This third answer sealed the deal. The past had been forgiven. Peter had been restored and reinstated. The Church then had a shepherd here on earth who was the representative of Jesus.

Jesus did not mention to Peter what he had done because He knew that they both know what happened and bringing up the past won't change anything. Why dwell on the past when it cannot help to move forward into the future? However, this does not mean that Jesus simply forgot about what happened. It is precisely because both Jesus and Peter knew what happened that made this encounter so powerful. It is in the recognition of the past and the repentance of our sins (the work of the heart and Spirit) that allows us to see the saving power of God's mercy and grace. The Father has the power to transform rejection, denial, guilt, shame and sin into love, mercy, and reconciliation.

Do we use this powerful encounter as the model of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation in our lives? If we are to be followers of Christ, then we must strive to love like him. In loving like Him, we must forgive and we must seek reconciliation. We forgive and we love. Out of that profound experience of forgiveness and reconciliation comes the new life and freedom that Christ promised.

Look at the picture below, I can almost hear Jesus saying to Peter, "It is time to let go of the fish. You must go out to the all the nations and catch men now." What are we holding on to that is preventing us from following Jesus wholeheartedly and unreservedly? Trust that the Father has a plan for you. A plan that far exceeds what you can ever imagine. Ask the Father to help you let go of those attachments and to help you grow in deeper trust in Him.

As Jesus and Peter finished their conversation and encounter, Jesus told Peter the life he would live and the way he would glorify Him in martyrdom. Then, Jesus said one final thing before this part of the conversation was over. It was not something new for he had heard it before. But it was said to be received with a newfound meaning. Jesus said to Peter, "Follow me."

Today, Jesus is extending an invitation to you, asking you, "Do you love me?" "And in loving me, do you love my people? If you love me then you must also love my people. Follow me."

Brothers and sisters, this is a tough question and daunting challenge. But as people of the Resurrection, we must rise to the occasion and say "Yes," fully confident that Jesus will give to us all the graces we will need to live out this "Yes." Let us today and everyday, with sincere humility and dependent trust say to the Lord, "Yes, Lord, I love you. Transform the lies I have come to believe about myself into the love and mercy and reconciliation that will set me free. Teach me to follow You."